634x258 Dugout Discussion
25 June 2014 3486 comments
Paul Paul
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Groups E and F come to their conclusions this evening as the Brazil 2014 World Cup treats us to four more fixtures. Argentina are already through, after winning both their opening matches courtesy of late Lionel Messi strikes, and the South Americans square up to a Nigeria side who require just a draw to join them in the last 16:

Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Garay, Fernandez, Rojo; Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria; Messi, Higuain, Aguero

Nigeria: Enyeama; Ambrose, Omeruo Yobo, Oshaniwa; Mikel, Onazi; Odemwingie, Babatunde, Musa; Emenike,

Alejandro Sabella names an unchanged XI from the side that edged past Iran last time around. Despite the fact that his side have clinched a place in the last 16, the Argentina boss has resisted the urge to rest and rotate and is clearly affording his first-choice players the chance to step up in performance, after a pair of very unconvincing showings thus far. Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero once again lead the line, then, with Angel Di Maria owners looking for the Real Madrid man to improve his contribution from the centre of the park.

Nigeria – along with Mexico – were one of only two sides to register a clean sheet in both the opening Matchdays. It’s no real surprise, then, to see the Africans remain unchanged, with Peter Odemwingie hoping to replicate his winner against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous match as Stephen Keshi’s side attempt to pick up the point which would ensure their progress.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Begovic; Vrsajevic, Sunjic, Spahic, Kolasinac; Hadzic, Besic, Susic, Pjanic; Ibisevic, Dzeko

Iran: Haghighi; Montarezi, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Pooladi; Nekounam, Teymourian; Shojaei, Hajsafi, Dejagah; Ghoochannejad

Bosnia make five changes in their final game of the tournament. In defence, full-backs Avdija Vrsajevic and Sead Kolasinac come in for Mensur Mujdza and SenadLulic, whilst further up the field, Zvjedan Misimovic, Izet Hajrovic and Haris Medunjanin drop out for Anel Hadzic, Tino-Sven Susic and Vedad Ibisevic. Manager Safet Susic looks to have returned to the 4-1-3-2 formation that served his side so well in qualifying, with Ibisevic up front alongside Edin Dzeko.

Iran, meanwhile, are unchanged for the showdown as Carlos Quieroz’ side attempt to overcome the odds and make it through to the knockouts. As the only team in the tournament yet to score a goal, though, they face a tough task to get the better of the Bosnians.

In the later matches, Karim Benzema owners will be desperate for the France striker to continue the form which has harvested three goals and a trio of assists in the opening couple of Matchdays. With his side already through, though, Didier Deschamps certainly has the option of resting key players, with the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba hoping to return to the starting XI after both were dropped for last week’s 5-2 win over Switzerland. Opponents Ecuador have an in-form frontman of their own as they look for the result that would steer them through – Enner Valencia has also notched three times in the first two games and has netted in six of his last seven international appearances.

Switzerland also have plenty to play for. A win over Honduras, coupled with at least a draw for the French, would seal the progress of Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side as they look to bounce back from their mauling at the hands of Les Bleus, though the Swiss boss has decisions to make up front, after alternating Josip Drmic and Haris Seferovic as the lone forward over the first two games. Fantasy managers will be hoping raiding left-back Ricardo Rodriguez can replicate his pair of assists in Matchday 1, whilst Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka offer the main threat in the attacking midfield three.

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  1. crystalpalaceRus
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I guess thats a -1 for Rojo then

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      +5

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  2. VougieDipond
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I would take Messi off his 2 goals have just made Nigeria angry

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  3. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Musa 2, Messi 2

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      😎

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  4. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Go Musa, go Musa, go Musa

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  5. crystalpalaceRus
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Oooooooooh Maria

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  6. Billy Gilmore
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    How Di Maria has no points so far is beyond me.

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  7. crystalpalaceRus
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    ROJO GOAL YES

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  8. Billy Gilmore
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Rojo goal 😀

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  9. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Stupid baroque poet 🙁

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  10. Louis
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    ROJOOOOOOO

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  11. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Rojo

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  12. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    ROJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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  13. Pinoche
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    ROJOOOOOO

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  14. SW6
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Rojoooooo

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  15. emperikal
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Rojo!!!

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  16. VougieDipond
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    goal rojo?

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  17. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Rojo 😎

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  18. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    ROJOOOOOOOOOO

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  19. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    You're not Higuain though.

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  20. The Sarjeant
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    If Suarez gets a ban will it be just internationals or league football as well?

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Think it's just internationals. Not really sure though.

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  21. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Fook. Commentator got my hopes up when he said Garay scored,

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Might be an assist.

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  22. crystalpalaceRus
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Rojo is a legend

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  23. LewanGOALski
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    ROJO, You HERO !!!!!

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  24. VougieDipond
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    What a finish

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  25. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    ADM assist?

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Garay

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    2. iCon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Nope. possibly Lavezzi, probably Garay

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    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Garay I think.

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    4. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Lavezzi corner, hit someone in the box (Garay/Nigerian)

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  26. Epic Fail
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Rocko

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  27. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Oshaniwa, that has to be a Japanese name 😯

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    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Racist.

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  28. Pinky and Brain
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Lavezzi assist.

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  29. crystalpalaceRus
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Rojo please come to the Premier League so i can have you in my FPL team for 8 months/

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  30. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Rojoooooooo!! 😀

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